Flick raises concern over fitness levels as Barcelona players show signs of early fatigue

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has reportedly raised alarm bells over the team’s poor physical state, and to address it, he called an urgent meeting with the club’s fitness department, as per SPORT .

The decision came after the heavy defeat to Sevilla, which left the German deeply worried about the lack of energy and intensity across the squad.

Flick gathered the club’s physical trainers soon after the loss to analyse why the team looked so far off the pace.

The data presented to him suggests that the players are not performing anywhere near the physical standards expected at this point in the season.

The outlet mentions that the workload in training has been reduced recently because players are showing signs of fatigue far earlier than usual.

This lighter schedule is meant to prevent injuries, but it has also limited the squad’s ability to build endurance.

Flick and his staff are now trying to understand what’s gone wrong and how to restore the team’s physical sharpness before it becomes a bigger problem.

Hansi Flick is worried about his players’ fitness levels. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The target is to have the squad reach their peak, but with the current fatigue levels, that objective seems increasingly difficult to achieve.

A key factor behind this slump is the team’s relentless schedule, which includes seven matches in just 21 days.

Injuries have forced Flick to stick with the same core group of players, leaving little room for rotation. This has caused physical strain and reduced recovery time, which in turn affects performance and intensity.

Pedri’s situation encapsulates the broader issue. While his football intelligence and creativity remain undoubted, his physical data paints a worrying picture.

He is operating below last season’s parameters, and it shows in his pressing, recovery runs, and sharpness on the ball.

Flick believes the team’s current level of fitness is what they would usually expect towards the end of November, not early October.

The coaching staff is now investigating every detail – from training methods to recovery routines – to find quick solutions.

For Flick, restoring physical power is now non-negotiable as without it, Barcelona risk losing their competitive edge in the crucial months ahead.